Thursday, February 28, 2013

Disclaimer: This is much longer than usual, and was typed with my two thumbs on a BlackBerry while falling asleep at 3am, after which I refused to proofread or edit due to tirednocity. You might find some errorian units. Please forgivify :-)

HOW STUFF TASTED TODAYGreens plus sweet potato juice was milder tasting than yesterday's "Yuck!" post. I'm drinking it because I still have more left and it's gonna go bad very soon. It is super nutritious, hence my picking that combination to be with. But as I whined and lamented yesterday I wouldn't do it again and I certainly don't recommendify (aka "recommendorize" it. Vegetable puree tasted soooo good! Even plain, it's rich in flavor, and the virgin coconut oil is a real boost of sweet country goodness!

I BINGED TODAYPotatoes late at night. I waited too long to send blog because I was busy. I didn't have anything healthier. No excuses. I didn't have enough fruit so I didn't have enough green smoothie. No excuses. I was worried about making my rent. I was very anxious about spilling my guts here about stuff I'm embarrassed to share. No excuses. I had arguments with one of my closest friends who threatened to end our friendship. No excuses. I had another disagreement with a raw buddy who stopped corresponding with me. No excuses. One of my roommates screamed and made noise in her sleep which woke me up at 5:41am wherein I ran to my bedroom door to block it in case she tried to break in. Needless to say I felt afraid. No excuses. I am learning to take control of my life. I'm not a victim of a disease of compulsive overeating and food addiction. I chose to eat when and how much and I take full responsibility.

MOOD UPDATEI remember when I was first on Prozac, back in the 1990s (I've been off medications for bipolar/depression and high blood pressure since the early 2000s). When it started to work, I remember feeling my eyes open wider. All day long, whereas my eyes used to feel heavy and I wouldn't even notice, I was now walking around feeling brighter, more cheerful, and my eyes would open wider. I'm feeling that way now. The last two days I've noticed my eyes are open wider, and it feels just like when I was on anti-depressants.Only, there are no side effects and I'm getting many health benefits through nutrition! I felt very grounded and my heart felt very peaceful today. I was aware that came from the yams, sweet potatoes and coconut.

VISIONS, BLESSINGS, SERVICEThree days after being 100% I had a vision (in my mind) about my new life. It felt great so I knew it was a very good sign. In the vision I was seated, alone, at a white banquet table at a football field. The stands were empty and the people were in the field, moving in a peaceful, organized fashion. They came to my table where I greeted them and gave them materials from my table. One by one they left with my objects. After the vision, I received a knowing that the football field represented the universe. I know I am actively reaching people, and my intention is to touch the lives of an unlimited amount of people who would be assisted by my work and being. The universe supports me and I support the universe. Blessings are many and include your reading this right now :-) I have opportunities to demonstrate health through the living plants.I was looking at greens in a store and a black woman, heavy-set, in her late 40s was there, too. She asked, "Are you an actress?" I was elated because I've really been wanting to act lately, but feeling too overwhelmed to seek extensively for potential roles. I said I am but haven't acted in years. Then she remembered having purchased a CD at a concert of mine. We talked about kale and how we both grew up with relatives who overcooked vegetables (my mom didn't, though :-). I started talking about green smoothies and she asked questions. Then she told me she has cancer! She said she's doing well. On and on we spoke about raw foods and healing and I gave her resources and traded contact information. Oh yeah, she said my skin looked great, too!

I'M SUPPOSED TO TELL YOU THAT I'M BROKE, OR "THE BROKE DIARIES THAT I DIDN'T WANT TO WRITE"The thing about being an artist is the better you get at it, the more you become a channel for the muse, the angels, the stories that want to be told or the characters who want to speak through you-who want you to speak for them and tell their story just as you can-the songs that need your specific interpretation of them. At some point you've got to learn how to get out of your own way and do the work you're being called to do. Okay I'm stalling here :-) Some of you may recall that I'm into angel communication as taught by Doreen Virtue www.AngelTherapy.com.Well, I've thought of her teachings and experience a lot these days, because I've been getting a very strong message from my angels to talk about my current financial situation. She went through many years ignoring her angels' messages and she suffered as a result. She urges everyone, whom she believes has guardian and other loving, helpful angels, to listen to those signals and messages we get and don't act on because of fear ("Take a class," "Quit drinking," "Leave this relationship," "Follow your dream," "Trust your gut instinct," etc. Well, it's my turn :-)Doreen teaches us to trust our Divine Guidance (which often comes in the form of angel messages) and take guided action. Trust, and take guided action: two things that are sooo difficult for people with a lot of fear-based control issues. People who have used addictive and compulsive behaviors to manage their fear and emotions. People exactly like me! :-) But I don't want to keep doing those things. And change means change now, not later when I've "evolved". Anyway, I think of myself as a very abundant persun. I believe in miracles, and I'm also very resourceful. As a result, I receive miracles all the time.So it's 12:50am and I'm very tired and want to go to sleep soon. I'll try to wrap this up... The angels want me to put in this blog that I am presently very low in funds. They said to be honest about where I am financially so that others who are in a similar situation can be inspired to action in regards to their health and creativity. The angels remind me to make my "mess" my "message". I resisted for 2 days and most of the previous 5 hours of writing this blog. I didn't want to promote scarcity mindset. I also know that my situation is always changing. One month I'll have more than enough income and another I'll have less, but I always *have* and that's why I was resisting. But I've learned not to resist my angels or my gut instinct or my intuition (all the same thing). I'm stalling so much because the next step is to list my Paypal contribution info which I don't usually mind posting when I'm promoting a new project. So I'm going to tell you how much money I have right now, how I obtained my produce on that budget and create an invitation for you to participate in the party that is my life! I'm not asking for money. Believe me, I've done that before in my museletters and felt much more comfortable with doing so! When I asked the angels why put a Paypal donation link in this blog when I don't really want to ask for money, they said it's not about using the link to ask as if I were stating a need. I'm creating a place for those who appreciate and are assisted by my work to contribute as they feel inspired to. Then the angels showed me a window and said I would benefit if I left a way for those who wish to contribute. They really urged me to do that. Maybe the reward will be in the doing of this exercise and end there, I don't know. Maybe I will get enough contributions to pay my food and living expenses for the next three months, who knows. A girl can and ought to dream, n'est pas? :-)

When I went produce shopping a couple of days ago, I had $8 to work with. I had $5 in the bank and $20 at home and not immediate prospects for more money. How did I do it, you ask? :-) I went to Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia. I first went to see the selection and prices at OK Produce, then went to Iovine Brothers where I bought a big yam. Then I went to OK Produce and purchased everything else I had already scanned. Greens $ .99/lb (Iovine $1.29). Their $1 bags were much more to my liking, too, that day. So I bought my grapes and bananas there, as well as sweet potatoes (Iovine Bros don't know the difference between yams and sweet potatoes yet). Anyway, I spent $7 altogether on food that lasted me two days. See? You *can* do it!

So, would you like to be in my next blog? (Didn't see that comin' did ya? :-) This blog appears daily at http://facebook.com/cassendrexavier where I have over 5,300 Friends and http://cassendrexavier.blogspot.com which is online and searchable for as long as my blog shall live! If you'd like to have your business/name and URL (website, Twitter, Facebook, LinkdIn, MySpace, YouTube, Sonicbids, Reverb Nation, CD Baby, etc.) appear in my next or upcoming blog issue, please visit http://cassendrexavier.com, click on the Paypal logo on my home page and make a one-time contribution of any amount you choose. (Low-tech method: Go to www.paypal.com, click Send Money, then send to cxmusic(at)gmail.com - replace the (at) with @) If there's an option to include a message, send your "ad" of name and URL. Once your Paypal transaction is complete, I will save your name and URL and note it for inclusion in my museletter next :-) If you just want to make a Paypal contribution, that'd be okay, too :-)

Thank you for your time.

///// In Every Issue (Regularly Revised) /////

Fast/Feast Factoids:

*Green smoothies (GS) are fruit and leafy greens in a blender with water.*Raw vegan juices are made from fruits and vegetables in a juicer, or in some cases, in a blender with water added then the fiber or pulp strained. *Both green smoothies and raw vegan juices are known to provide many healing and nutritional benefits as well as being low calorie, low fat, and easy to digest.*A "feast" is like a fast only instead of depriving the body of nutrients, you are flooding it with nutrients. The digestive system rests while the overall body then heals and detoxes from a long-term exposure to and experience of denatured foods, environmental toxins, emotional traumas, and general misuse.

Cut onions first and put them in. Then put in the potaoes and yam.When boiling (uncovered), keep checking potatoes and yam for softness. As soon as they seem just cooked, not mushy, turn off the stove. Strain off liquid and store it as vegetable broth. Spoon out veggie mixture onto large shallow bowl, pan, or several plates to cool enough to go into glass blender or food processor, but warm enough for you to enjoy it as soup right away. Add garlic clove. Put into blender with water as needed to blend properly (re-season if necessary after dilution). Blend until smooth. Serve immediately and enjoy!

///// Food Notes, or: "The Taste of Things" /////

"Sweet Potato Juice Sux!"I have to say this is really, really nasty tasting, people. I am very attracted to sweet potatoes right now, so I know I'm supposed to eat them; they're very nutritious, even moreso than their other powerhouse sibling yams, so I figured juicing them for their raw qualities and enzymes would be even better, but please. Please promise me you'll never try it unless you want to make your worst enemy gag and vomit. 'Cause you're not supposed to wish bad things upon your worst enemy, remembohr? :-) You're supposed to slice some pineapple for them and serve it on a bed of love and mangoes :-) So yeah, sweet potato juice sux. Never let it be said! Disclaimer: Anything your body needs will taste delicious or at least palatable to you. So iffn' you ever hanker for whatever I say is totally nasty, obey your tummal reggiones!! L'chayim!

"I Deserve a Tastier Experience" I've been doing medicinal juices and smoothies, not noticing how unpleasing they taste. I have had such a strange, hate-hate relationship with food. I didn't really try to make delicious raw vegan food and beverages and certainly not on a consistent basis. Now that I'm preparing to learn how to eat again, I'm thinking about these things. I'm thinking about how I want to eat for the rest of my life.Now I'm choosing this healing, transforming, and empowering highly raw vegan liquid food experience. I see now that just because my food is liquid and healthy it doesn't mean it has to taste other than excellent. I can pay attention to the juice recipes I've not used in the past, create a recipe of my own if I want, and make something I won't have to bite the bullet to drink :-)

Update: I made both my green smoothie and vegetable puree very tasty today! It feels nice to take care of myself, and I'm not as tempted to "cheat" because I'm getting that pleasure need already met.

///// Detox-o Wox-o /////Corners of mouth healed within 24 hours of adding cooked food to slow down and soften the detox process and using honey to soothe. Cold sore is starting to rear its blatant head again, though, right where it always does. I tore into a garlic clove and rubbed the cold sore, as well as the corners of my mouth which had also been affected by my detox, then smoothed a honey+Bonne Belle lip gloss on my mouth everywhere but the threatening cold sore. I know you're just trying to help, cold sore, but I've got a gig next week! :-) Okay, that doesn't make any sense. I will not fight the healing. I will try to let you express yourself, Your Soreness!

///// Thoughts, Feelings, Mood Journal /////

I feel fantastic today! Fruit is definitely important. My food was tasty and added energy. I felt more balanced, calm and grounding. Grape sugar helped me immensely. Sweet potatoes, yams, and coconut are great. Very grounding, nutritious, and work well together. Because of the green smoothies and my vegetable puree, I felt more patient, loving, secure, and self-assured. I made good decisions and acted out of love whenever I noticed I had the choice.

///// In Every Issue (Regularly Revised) /////

Fast/Feast Factoids:

*Green smoothies (GS) are fruit and leafy greens in a blender with water.*Raw vegan juices are made from fruits and vegetables in a juicer, or in some cases, in a blender with water added then the fiber or pulp strained. *Both green smoothies and raw vegan juices are known to provide many healing and nutritional benefits as well as being low calorie, low fat, and easy to digest.*A "feast" is like a fast only instead of depriving the body of nutrients, you are flooding it with nutrients. The digestive system rests while the overall body then heals and detoxes from a long-term exposure to and experience of denatured foods, environmental toxins, emotional traumas, and general misuse.

///// Detox-o Wox-o /////"Mouth Sores, Dang It!"Every time I go raw, within days I get a canker/cold sore on my lip. One time it opened so drastically (over a few days) it broke my natural lip line. I had to use lipstick all the time to cover the scar. I thought I'd ruined my lips forever, and that made me really sad because I really like my mouth, lips, and smile, but thankfully over the next couple of years, the split closed and healed enough to be barely perceptible. This time the corners of my mouth got sore. I searched "raw mouth sores" on YouTube and found a post by a doctor who works with cancer patients in chemotherapy. Apparently sores in the mouth are very common in those cases. The doctor, female by the way, suggested to put honey all over the inside of the mouth and everywhere around it that's sore. She said to create a "honey bandage" and to use your finger. This creates a soothing, protective coating. Raw organic honey is best, she says, but any honey will do. Raw honey is very healing. It's antibacterial and a humectant, so it keeps moisture close to the skin. Raw honey been used as far back in yourstory as can be recalled, was put into wounds to heal them, and it never spoils. Raw honey has been found in ancient Egyptian excavated burial sites still edible and usable. The clear, liquid stuff you see most often is not raw honey. The best stuff is unfiltered and looks off-white and is solid. One of the best known brands is http://www.ReallyRawHoney.com.It is totally unprocessed and contains even bee propolis, which has a lot of health benefits, too. I put regular honey on the corners of my mouth and even with just that it immedidately felt both soothed and protected. I decided to slow down my detox process by consuming something cooked yesterday and from time to time. After all, I am not trying to be all raw now anyway.

///// Thoughts, Feelings, Mood Journal /////Although I figured out it's very important and helpful for me to send this not too much after 5pm (to help me not eat anything after that), you may notice I'm sending this at almost 9pm. Well, don't worry, I've been very safe - there's no food where I am! I'm at a library and totally safe... as soon as I hit "send" that is.... Walking outta here tonight I could catch a whiff of Micky Deez and be lost! So, here comes the "send" click, folks!

///// Elimination Station //// Did you know your skin, your largest organ (sorry guys, heh-heh!), is one of the top was your body eliminates toxins? Yep, acne, rashes, sores, and eczema are all actually great signs of your body healing itself. I mention this not only because my face is either starting to show little signs of said so-call "healing" (either that or it's just responding to the dairy, meat, and processed stuffs I'd been bingeing on during my "1 omnivorous meal a day" habit of recent weeks), but because I wanted to include something about elimination that was just a wee more creative than what ye, my smart and savvy readers might expect, like, Oh, I dunno, maybe...

"I'm Constipated!"Question: How does a persun eating mostly fresh fruits and vegetables get constipated?

*Insufficient fibery units entering the innardials. Juices, whether made in the blender or in the juicer, are usually prepared with the fiber strained out so that it's smoother, more palatable. Smoothies are made in the blender or something similar and all the fiber is kept in and served as is. I'm drinking a lot more juice than I am smoothie, and unlike weeks ago when I was also eating a bunch of fruit, now I'm drinking mostly all my meals. So. Gotta up the roughage!

*DehydrationI noticed months ago that green juice dehydrates me. I can be peeing nice clear or light-colored all day, then one serving of green juice and it's dark-ass yellow. Also, I'm thirsty for several hours later. I sense this is due to the highly nutritive and assimilatable qualities of the green juice. My body is using it so fast, by digestion, and our bodies use up water in the digestorial (aka "digesticular") processes. So, here I was, drinking about a gallon or more of water a day, and not making enough solid sacrifices to the commode gods! Another thing I figured out: my body needs more water. Doesn't matter what the rules or numbers say. Fact is I'm a muscular and fleshy 200lb gyal in a radical healing process. Having hypertension I need more water to flood sodium. Having lived on gummi bears and chocolate frosting as well as a little bit of a house-sized portion of breads, pastas, rices, and most other savory starches, I have a lot of sugar to unload. Also, I'm losing weight and weightlosery (aka "weightlosage") requires water. Lastly, as much as I enjoy drinking all of my water with lemon or lime juice, I'm sensing that a large part of my water intake, at least right now, is best completely plain. I sense even the lemon or lime juice require more digestion than my body wants. She wants the water and dagnabbit to Hades, she's gonna git it! Now, step aside, folks - there's something to see here! :-) (O the corniness :-)

Update: The above report was written in the morning. It's evening now, and I can tell you the innards made up for lost time. Yup. Several times today. Thanks fer askin'!

///// In Every Issue (Regularly Revised) /////

Fast/Feast Factoids:

*Green smoothies (GS) are fruit and leafy greens in a blender with water.*Raw vegan juices are made from fruits and vegetables in a juicer, or in some cases, in a blender with water added then the fiber or pulp strained. *Both green smoothies and raw vegan juices are known to provide many healing and nutritional benefits as well as being low calorie, low fat, and easy to digest.*A "feast" is like a fast only instead of depriving the body of nutrients, you are flooding it with nutrients. The digestive system rests while the overall body then heals and detoxes from a long-term exposure to and experience of denatured foods, environmental toxins, emotional traumas, and general misuse.

(c) Copyright 2013 by Cassendre Xavier. You can copy and share this stuff, but do so ethically, okay? And iff'n you make money from it, share and share alike. Thanks! All rights reserved. www.cassEndrExavier.com

I felt very good today. A little manic one minute, and perfectly calm the next, but never depressed as I'm so used to being. Always energetic. Relaxing about cravings and rules. Anything and anytime I eat is okay, and that's the point from which I'm learning to choose. Avoiding today's pitfalls going forward: Consuming a lot more fruit or drink more water. Posting this blog every day at 5pm or soonafter.

///// In Every Issue (Regularly Revised) /////

Fast/Feast Factoids:

*Green smoothies (GS) are fruit and leafy greens in a blender with water.*Raw vegan juices are made from fruits and vegetables in a juicer, or in some cases, in a blender with water added then the fiber or pulp strained. *Both green smoothies and raw vegan juices are known to provide many healing and nutritional benefits as well as being low calorie, low fat, and easy to digest.*A "feast" is like a fast only instead of depriving the body of nutrients, you are flooding it with nutrients. The digestive system rests while the overall body then heals and detoxes from a long-term denatured foods, environmental toxins, emotional traumas, and general misuse. Good times!

(c) Copyright 2013 by Cassendre Xavier. You can copy and share this stuff, but do so ethically, okay? And iff'n you make money from it, share and share alike. Thanks! All rights reserved. www.cassEndrExavier.com

Lettuce snot bee so interested in weighing and measuring our bodies. Lettuce instead be in the habit of weighing and measuring the quality of our chosen experience of life.

That, I have found, is a much more pleasant choice. It is self-loving, non-abusive, and world-compassionate. It helps youthlets (aka "youthlings") accept and be kinder to themselves and one another. It brings much more of our money to causes and communities more financially needy, more ethically deserving, more emotionally enriching and humynly essential than the diet, cosmetics, fashion, and surgical industries. Plus, as a fringe benefit, when we pay more attention to how we experience our lives than to how we may or may not even appear to others, doing so naturally, organically, authentically, lovingly, and easily addresses and corrects and normalizes our physical concerns anyway. It balances our concerns, temporarily neutralizes the pull of our fear-based/fear-hungry egos, and maximizes our ability to come from our love and wisdom: our united, connected, universal and singular Heart. We all make the most progress in every area of your lives when we remind ourselves to love, accept, cherish, and celibrate ourselves, flaws, shadows and all, exactly as we are today.

///// Elimination Station (aka "One's Poopings" or "Toilet Gifts" if you will. (As it were :-) /////

35% less peeing than yesterday. Likely due to lack of fruit. I drank so much grapefruit yesterday! Even though I thought that being so sour in comparison to oranges grapefruit was a low fruit sugar food, my bladdohrral reggiones tell me otherwise, and wow is this gyal listening! I read some articles online today about John Wayne's autopsy revealing 40lbs of impacted feces in his colon.Many believe we are supposed to eliminate after each meal. I don't know what that means for juice feasting, but I've made the decision to include a lot of fiber in some of my daily liquids for now. That's why I'm doing smoothies, and not just juice, I know my innards require some serious sweepery, although I know it's better than most on the SAD (Standard American Diet) in that it is highly raw and rich in fiber. That said, I'm pretty sure I only pooped once today and that doesn't make me happy. But it was an okay-quality poopery device unit: cool temperature while coming out, alkaline, and abundant. (You're welcome!)

///// Thoughts, Feelings & Mood Journal /////

"Switched from Feast to Fast"The term "feast" is more common among more experienced raw vegans and live foodists, and they are not my audience; not who I'm here to serve along my raw and living foods journey. I decided to use the term "fast" because it's more commonly recognized and known among the people I am meant to be a good example for and inspire to implement more fresh, organic fruits, leafy greens, and vegetables into their diets. Also, to really "feast" I believe one must drink a lot more juice than I'm attracted to right now. So in addition to wanting to use a better-known term, I also just happen to be doing more of a raw vegan liquid (smoothies and juices) fast than feast. So there! :-)

"Angry Much?"1:00pm - People are getting on my last nerve! Everyone, everywhere, every way, and all the time. This is what tells me I'm at war with myself inside, and that I have so much anger and rage to resolve. I can't have the simplest littlest conversation or interaction with someone without there invariably being some kind of minor or major confusion, misunderstanding or agreement. I know this can be healed and I'm using raw foods to help the process. There's nothing wrong with the whole wide world. There's too much anger in myself. 5:15pm - I felt so much better after drinking the fructose-sweetened green tea! I'm sure part of it was emotional reaction to the sweetness, but also it was my only fruit sugar of the day (I hadn't blended my fruit and wasn't about to risk chewing it right now...Liquids only!) But for the rest of the day I've felt calm, energized, patient, loving, and inspired. Tomorrow, more fruit for Mama. Yeah, baby!

"And the Self-Love Groweth"I do feel more lovable now since I've spent almost 4 weeks not eating after 5pm. I loved myself enough to try and succeed day after tempting day whether alone or on dates with late eating loved ones. I'm getting better at running my life, one bite or smoothie/juice sip at a time, but even moreso one non-consumptive hour at a time.

///// Hunger & Cravings /////Not very hungry. Using tricks I know to stave off hunger: Drinking water, drinking juice, and my last caloric intake of the day includes fat, which adds energy and more importantly takes a good long time to digest. So, having that tablespoon of EVOO at 5:00pm ensures I'm not thinking about food again at least until 8:00pm. Whoo-hoo!

//// Detox Symptoids ////Headache. Took 2 aspirins because I needed to be more comfortable to have the energy and perserverance to continue the fast. Turns out the fructose-sweetened tea may have been the cause of the relief I felt 10 minutes after drinking the tea with the aspirin. Thanks to Philip McCluskey of www.lovingraw.com for the tea tip :-)

///// In Every Issue (Regularly Revised) /////

Fast/Feast Factoids:

*Green smoothies (GS) are fruit and leafy greens in a blender with water.*Raw vegan juices are made from fruits and vegetables in a juicer, or in some cases, in a blender with water added then the fiber or pulp strained. *Both green smoothies and raw vegan juices are known to provide many healing and nutritional benefits as well as being low calorie, low fat, and easy to digest.*A "feast" is like a fast only instead of depriving the body of nutrients, you are flooding it with nutrients. The digestive system rests while the overall body then heals and detoxes from a long-term denatured foods, environmental toxins, emotional traumas, and general misuse. Good times!

(c) Copyright 2013 by Cassendre Xavier. You can copy and share this stuff, but do so ethically, okay? And iff'n you make money from it, share and share alike. Thanks! All rights reserved. www.cassEndrExavier.com

Thoughts & Mood Journal:10:00am: Woke up happy at 8am. Most other days this week were a struggle. So happy to finally be rid of the chewing part of food consumption. I really hope I can just drink my food now for a good long while. That will be such a break for me. Such a release and relief. 12:00pm - I am treating myself as a mother does her baby in her belly: I nourish myself before I feel hunger. Hunger triggers cravings and cravings are very dangerous and put me at high risk of deviating from my set intention to succeed. As soon as I even think about eating, I drink my food. I bathe the inside of my belly with the cool, nourishing greens and fruits that have been blended for easier digestion. Or I drink more water. But between 8am and 5pm is the only time I consume digestible calories, so I save most of my water consumption for times outside of that window. I'm looking forward to juicing my sweet potatoes for consumption with green juice later today or tomorrow. Then I will find beets and especially carrots. Yummy for my tummal reggiones, them there's the real vits!

Elimination Station:Frequent urination. Twice I gave a present to the toilet. Oh, the cleansing! Definitely feels like the innards are normalizing. You're welcome :-)

Manifesting Dream Life:I decided last night I don't need to play a guitar as much as I need to sing in a band. That means I don't have to wait until I have my own band (again). I can sing for other people, in (an)other band(s). I went on Craigslist's "musicians" category and looked for bands seeking singers. I asked a co-bill to create a Facebook Event for our upcoming. She said yes! Powerful people delegate, so I'm very pleased about this!

Feast Factoids:

*Green smoothies (GS) are fruit and leafy greens in a blender with water. *Raw vegan juices are made from fruits and vegetables in a juicer, or in some cases, in a blender with water added then the fiber or pulp strained.*Both green smoothies and raw vegan juices are known to provide many healing and nutritional benefits as well as being low calorie, low fat, and easy to digest. *A "feast" is like a fast only instead of depriving the body of nutrients, you are flooding it with nutrients.The digestive system rests while the overall body then heals and detoxes from a long-term denatured foods, environmental toxins, emotional traumas, and general misuse. Good times!

A) GREETING1) OFFLINE FUELS ONLINE 2) THE DAYLIGHT DIET3) LATE BLOOMERS: IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO BE WHAT YOU MIGHT HAVE BEEN4) THE SELF-HEALING CHRONICLES: FOCUS ON ADDING MORE LOVE5) WHAT I THINK DEPRESSION IS & HOW I MANAGE MINE6) MY CURRENT PROJECTS 7) MASSAGE & SERENADE FOR YOU OR YOUR SWEETIE FOR VALENTINE'S DAY OR OTHER OCCASION (BOOK & PRESENT NOW - SCHEDULE LATER!)8) RAW VEGAN SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS, CONSULTING, PERSONAL SHOPPING & JUICE/SMOOTHIE PREP 9) TAKE MY MUSIC, EBOOKS & GUIDED MEDITATION RECORDINGS!10) PAYPAL DONATION LINK: TIP JAR FOR THE RENAISSANCE NEGRESSE!Z) FAREWELL BLESSING

CONTENTS OF TABLE

A) GREETINGHello, Friends! I hope this message finds you doing well. Me, well I'm angry a lot these days, but it's old anger, and the work to discover and release it, well, it is rich :-)Glad to have this opportunity to reach out to thyself again!

1) OFFLINE FUELS ONLINEA friend of mine who helps me grow a lot as an artist and I were discussing Twitter and Facebook. I was expressing frustration over my lack of success in using either or both efficiently, or at least as I see others using them. I was surprised to hear him say he hates Twitter, as I do, because he's younger than I am and I thought all the youngins loved to tweet. But, alas, like Moi, he is a writer, and from what I understand, many writers feel frustrated over the brief number of characters allowed per tweet. Oh, how I do not love the Twitter. In fact, I think I'm the only one I know who has less and less so-called "followers" on the Twitter than everyone else, who gets more and more. But I maintain my presence there for the day I will have more resources and either hire someone to use it well or I'll just dismantle the whole thing. I feel better about my presence on the Facebook. On the Facebook, my audience is in deed growing. I know this, because I'm seeing new and appreciative faces at my concerts, and I sense they're a readin' my malarcky, shenanegans, and tomfoolery (d'ya like how I alphabetized that for you? :-) But my artist-supportive friend says to me he says, "Lots of people try to use Twitter and Facebook to get attention for their work, but you can't go online and use those social networking sites to grow your audience. Offline fuels online." Thems was golden words to mine ears, 'cause you know what? That's some trueness (aka "true-ocity") right there. I can't sit at home and be bitter and expect my audience to grow. I gotta get out there, but do it my way. So far, that way is to spend time with good friends and express my joy in various ways. One of those ways is writing, and I find that Facebook is a great way to speak out to whomever wants to hear. I learned that on my birthday a week ago, when my Facebook account was flooded with many personal messages wishing me a Happy Birthday. It did my heart good to know people appreciated my presence, and those message meant a lot, because I knew that for every one persun who took the time to message me persunally, there were many, many more who would've posted on my Wall (had I allowed that). So, I know there are people out there who are interested in my life, and that's why I'm spending more time growing that life, OFFline.

2) THE DAYLIGHT DIETI've been following some of the advice of Paul Nison, a raw foodist who follows Biblical Scripture's laws about health. Paul suggests eating during daylight hours only, between 8am and 5pm. You can learn more about it at his website http://healthwatchman.com, watch him on YouTube at http://youtube.com/TheHealthWatchman. I wrote a recent blog about my experience: The Daylight Diet: 1st Week - I Feel Great! http://tinyurl.com/bfzosxr

3) LATE BLOOMERS: IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO BE WHAT YOU MIGHT HAVE BEEN"It's never too late to be what you might have been." - George Eliot. There are lots of late bloomers, like me, who sometimes worry you're going to run out of time to do what you want to do. You're never going to run out of time. What you've done up until now has led you to who you currently are, and all your life experiences will make you a better whatever-you-want-to-be. All of your life is worthy, even if you may not see how your actions have helped you and those around you. Don't wait for validation from others, and most importantly, don't wait for permission from others. You are the only persun whose permission you need, and you have all you need right now to take the next step. Recognize what you've already accomplished, even if your past accomplishments don't take the exact form you think you ought to have taken. You have learned many skills along the way, and they're all valid, they can all be used. Work with, not against, fear to accomplish your goals. And make your goals all connect to your desire to feel more joy and appreciation in your life, which you can begin right this moment: to feel more joy and appreciation. Seek positive success stories of late bloomers, see the journey as the destination, and most of all, Don't worry...be happy! (Sorry for the cliches. Just speaking from mine heartal reggione :-)

4) THE SELF-HEALING CHRONICLES: FOCUS ON ADDING MORE LOVEI'm a lifelong compulsive overeater who started experimenting with the raw vegan lifestyle in 1997. Having many other issues which compound my struggle and make my successes in this area short-lived (which by the way is correctly pronounced to rhyme with "hort-hived". Did you know that? I love learning words that are oft-mispronounced!), I'm still on the path. In trying to heal my eating disorder with raw foods, I'm come upon many tools and tips over the years, the most recent being that I'm not trying to control my eating right now. I'm just trying to add more love to my life, and that includes my foodery habituals. David Wolfe, raw vegan deud, http://davidwolfe.com wrote an excellent book called "Eating for Beauty" and in it he led many to a very successful raw vegan path, mine included (just because I'm struggling now doesn't mean I haven't occasionally kicked a wide array of ass in this department - I lost 30lbs and allowed high blood pressure to go on its merry wayal areas)... In this book, he suggests not to try to remove cooked and processed foods, but to just add more raw vegan foods. This trick works great for me, it did back then, and helped me go 100% from time to time, for the longest: 61 consecutive days. Right now I'm doing the same thing. But I'm not trying to go all raw. I'm just making sure I have a high percentage of green juice every day, and fruit. I'm very attracted to the fruitarian diet http://rawfoods.com, especially the ability to eat a lot during the day as fruit only take 30 minutes to digest. This all is happening because I'm trying to add more love to my life and to my diet. I'm doing the same in my relationships. All of this takes effort,but it's so much easier now that I'm not trying to "fix" anything or take away what's not working. I find the more love I add, the more the so-called bad stuff takes care of itself. I have less desire to harm myself when I'm spending more time with people who love me and want me to do well. And when I see my friends and lovers and we talk about their challenges, I want them to do well, too, and hopefully my desire for their well-being inspires them to be good or better to themselves. We're all meant to need each other, and that's what grows more self-love and self-healing - focusing on adding more love to our lives in every area of our lives. Never let it be said!

5) WHAT I THINK DEPRESSION IS & HOW I MANAGE MINEMethinks depression is a few things:

*Brain chemical imbalance*Hereditarial issuances*Past traumas, including things that happened to our ancestors. I believe these things remain in our bodies until we heal them consciously. *Poor diet/insufficient nutrition*Current situations (for example, I believe economic depression is, or causes depression)*Anger turned inward (I didn't make that one up, that's in a book called "Women, Anger, and Depression" published by Health Communications International (HCI) *Environmental toxins*Universal collective emotions, experience, history, etc.*Allowing fear to stop our actions to pursue our dreams; repressed dreams.

I have suffered from depression my entire life, as far as I can recall, and was officially diagnosed Bipolar II in 1993. I've lost jobs and ruined relationships because of it, and it's affected many other areas of my life. Still, I've also been blessed to have the ability to withstand temptation to not deal as well with it as I have. Some things I've done to manage my depression is:

*Reach out to friends to talk about it*Write about my pain*Write and publish this museletter :-)*Do the things that make me happy*Make art*Eat living plants, and green fresh green juice*Dance *Listen to uplifting music*Watch comedy shows*HELP SOMEONE*See a counselor or therapist*Medication helped me many years ago, but I choose drugless options now*Reading books like "Nature's Prozac" by Sachs and "Natural Cures They Don't Want You To Know" by Kevin Trudeau *EXERCISE*SPENDING TIME WITH FRIENDS*Talk to my angels about it*PRACTICE GRATITUDE

6) MY CURRENT PROJECTSI'm working on the last two of my 4-part "Affirmations for Survivors" guided meditation recording series. The first two were "Self-Love" and "Spirituality". The last two will be "Sexuality" and "Life Skills". Just trying to live my life every day these days, grateful my rent gets paid through my various performances, massages, online music sales, Paypal donations, and other sources. Sometimes I feel sad that I don't "have it together" enough to be as comfortable financially as I'm sure you and most folks think I am, but I recognize it's a journey and I'm super happy to have the opportunity to grow and share my life lessons with the world. I'm first generation American born of Haitian and Chinese heritage. I am super lucky to have the life I do! I'm not plugging too many gigs lately, because I find it's better to play venues that will bring their own audience than it is to book an event and try to bring my own people. I'm building a new career in music, and it's working very well so far to meet new people at my shows. So, you'll hear less and less about new musical performances, but it doesn't mean they're not happening. For instance, I played Fergie's on Saturday the 10th to a very appreciative audience, and I didn't tell you, my reading audience, beforehand, because my experience is you're reading this because you like to read my writing, not because you're interested in coming to one of my shows. I'm glad I realize this, because I can write in joy and not bitterness that you will read this and not come to a gig of mine! I'm learning to use the appropriate channels for my projects (for instance, my recordings for survivors are best suited for therapists and centers which serve abuse survivors, etc.). These creations of mine may not all be actively distributed right now, but the creations exist and that's the first essential part! I guess my biggest projects right now are learning self-care as I prepare for the next level of my career as a musician, writer, fine artist, actress, and community cultural arts organizer. I'm taking a break from many of my former projects to be better at handling the next ones. My biggest current project is: Well-being!

7) MASSAGE & SERENADE FOR YOU OR YOUR SWEETIE FOR VALENTINE'S DAY OR OTHER OCCASION (BOOK & PRESENT NOW - SCHEDULE LATER!)Being so busy with my biggest current project: learning to live well while handling an eating disorder, depression, and being gainfully employed outside (or inside, for that matter) the art and music world, I've not advertised this in advance of Valentine's Day, but heck, it's never too late! Also, my massage services are available outside of holidays. In the olden days I've worked as a barista or bookseller between the months or years I've worked as a musician or produced community events which earned me income. These days I seem to be drawn to, or rather, attracting opportunities to do other work. It seems I'm being called to use the energies present in my physical form. I used to use these energies at cafes and bookstores, my bright cheerful smile and willingness to serve. Now, having learned many techniques in the healing arts world, and 20 years of this learning having past, it seems the universe wants me to be more hands-on bodies, rather than hands-on books. I also, as you know, love to do house concerts and have done many. I'm offering a massage and serenade for folks who would like one themselves to give one to their partner(s). This entails my going to your home, providing therapeutic massage and singing a few songs for you with my guitar! I know in the past I've mentioned "sensual" massage, but in the ensuing months, the universe has clearly guided me to remove this and provide only Therapeutic Massage. I was very surprised, because I thought "the public wanted" the sensual aspect, but it seems what I do is enjoyed enough without any extra added elements. Whodathunk it?! I've had clients since then, as varied as a woman in her 70s! I also have very positive testimonials, which at some point I'll post. My massage prices have been reduced from $75/hour to $1 a minute as is the general rate among my peers. If you want a 30 minute full-body massage (clothed or unclothed) plus 2 songs, that'll be $50. An hour of massage plus 2 songs will be $80. (Each song performed live will be $10.)I'm making this up as I go along, folks! That's what I've been doing, and the calls have been coming in and my bills have been getting paid! So, if you'd like to book a session, go to my website http://www.cassendrexavier.com/ and click on the Paypal logo to make a secure donation of the amount for which you want to book. You can also go to www.paypal.com and "Send Money" to cxmusic(at)gmail.com. Remove the (at) and replace with @. After payment is received, I'll contact you to schedule your first session! You can also have the massage without the serenade! Remember, it's $1/minute of massage (Minimum 30 minutes), and $10 per song performed live. Albeit!

8) RAW VEGAN SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS, CONSULTING, PERSONAL SHOPPING & JUICE/SMOOTHIE PREPIf you want me to speak at your event about the healing benefits of a high raw diet, want someone to purchase fruits and vegetables for you, or prepare green juices and green smoothies for improved health, email me at cxmusic(at)gmail.com. Please do not just reply to this message as it's being posted all over the place and I may never see your message. Here's to your colon-ial reggiones. Why? Because the renaissance negresse, she careth!

9) TAKE MY MUSIC, EBOOKS & GUIDED MEDITATION RECORDINGS!Feel free to "rip" these items online as you find them. I know some of you are savvy in this way :-) If you'd like my ebooks for free, you can email me at cxwriting(at)gmail.com. Replace the (at) with @. This is a temporary deal so act now. Or not. No sweat off my ovaries :-) Just being generous with the stuff because I'd rather you know my work so that when I have a publishing deal and you want to read my book, you'll know my name and enjoy my writing. And when I'm playing a big venue with a band, you'll attend because you'll know my name and enjoy my music. Lots of my stuff is available to hear and rip for free at my official YouTube Channel CXTV http://tinyurl.com/cxyoutube or http://youtube.com/cassendrexavier. My music for sale is at http://tinyurl.com/CXiTunes and http://www.cdbaby.com/all/cassendre. The iTunes sales in particular have been very active these days. Oh, the technology! Heretofore!

10) PAYPAL DONATION LINK: TIP JAR FOR THE RENAISSANCE NEGRESSE!Another idea from an artist supportive friend. It's neat how putting the info out there makes the random buck or twenty (you know who you are :-) pop into one's account. And how those bucks add up. Thanks, y'all! http://tinyurl.com/bh26njd or go to http://cassendrexavier.com and clicketh thyself on the Paypal logo-type item.

Z) FAREWELL BLESSINGMay you learn to accept, embrace, and transcend all of your difficult challenges.May you always remember you are loved, and you share that love from a place of abundance.May you catch yourself saying less-than-loving things to yourself and others. May you learn to give a little more, and accept no less than the best.May you keep expanding your idea of what you believe is possible for yourself.May you always keep moving towards your dreams.May you know you are lovable exactly as you are, and at all times. May all your deepest heart's desires come true, surpassing all your expectations; this, or something better, and may it be for the good of all.

In art and community,

Cassendre Xavier

CassendreXavier is an award-winning multi-media healing artist and community organizer. A first generation American born citizen of Haitian and Chinese heritage, she coined the term "renaissancenegresse" in 2002 to describe her work as a musician, author, visual artist, and actress.Cassendresometimes works under the namesAmethysteRah andAmrita Waterfalls, also identifies as alightworker-in-training, and has been involved as a producer of books, audio and video recordings, as well as a peer support group facilitator in the personal growth, spirituality, and recovery movements since 1991. She is the founder andexecutivedirector of Philadelphia's 8thAnnual Black Women's Arts Festival as well as the Women's Writing & Spoken Word Series. For more information, please visithttp://cassendrexavier.com.

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Wednesday, February 13, 2013

How are you? How's your colon? You know I worry about you :-) Just kiddin', I hold a vision of your optimal health and joy! Below is a copy of an email I recently sent to one of my lovers. Not a word has been changed. It has been shared with others and now I'm sharing it with you. Hope it helps!

Wishing you radiant health one day at a time,Cassendre

-----------------------Hi, sweetie,

You asked about my current diet. I've started following some advice from Paul Nison, a raw foodist who cured himself of ulcerative colitis and irritable bowel syndrome and came up with "The Daylight Diet".

Basically I eat a high percentage of raw vegan foods plus whatever else I want, but I only eat when it's light out, usually between 8am & 5pm. I still practice food combining for proper digestion, meaning I avoid mixing fruit with non-fruit, and I try to avoid mixing fats with starches.I drink plenty of water with lemon, especially upon waking, to flush my liver of the toxins it's collected overnight.

Paul Nison taught me that getting enough sleep at night is very important. It's when our body does the healing it can't properly do any other time.He says when we go to sleep on a stomach that hasn't been empty for several hours, our bodies are too busy digesting instead of healing and recouperating.

So, after 5pm I don't eat. My body is experiencing a daily 15 hour fast, which is very healthy.

I'm enjoying all kinds of food for my second meal of the day, including meat (first meal of the day is green juice or fruit and green juice), and I try to fill the rest of my digesting part of the day with fresh fruit and green juice.

I don't use a juicer for my greens. That takes too long and requires too much clean-up. I use a high-powered blender instead, and merely strain off the pulp. I get enough fiber anyway from the fresh fruit and cooked whole grains I eat.

My diet is largely fruitarian. I'm not attracted to raw vegetables these days.

My current self-directed eating timeline:Upon waking around 7am I drink at least 26 oz ideally heated water with fresh lemon or lime juice. I wait 30 minutes before eating fresh fruit and drinking green juice.I wait 30 minutes and eat either more fruit or a huge cooked meal of whatever I want.If I ate cooked, I wait at least 4 hours before I eat again. I eat as much as I want, including fresh fruit until 5pm.I usually drink green juice with my meals-to give me more nutrients, help counteract the negative effects of the cooked foods, ground my emotions and sense of being, and slow the absorption of fruit and cooked or processed sugars in my bloodstream. I usually wait the proper amount of time to allow my food to properly digest between meals.

I try to remember Paul Nison's teachings:

Relationships are more important than food. Know the difference between "habit hunger" and real hunger. Most of the time what I really want in a restaurant is to feel closer to and good with the people I'm with. After 5pm I can still be available to be with loved ones and new friends. At those times, I simply choose not to eat. Instead, I allow my body to heal as I wait, enjoy the feel-good benefits of the living plants and daily 15 hour fasting. And look forward to sleep and the next day's wonderful meals. I'm learning how to enjoy food again!